Mobile water treatment

ABSTRACT

A mobile water treatment apparatus to on-load a dirty fluid into a storage container attached to a motor vehicle and transport the fluid in the storage container from a first location and to a second location where the fluid is filtered by a filtration system attached to the motor vehicle. The filtered fluid is discharged from the mobile water treatment apparatus at the second location.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.12/974,554, filed Dec. 21, 2010, the entire content of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to a fluid transport and filtrationsystem, and more particularly to a water transport and filtration systemfor oil and gas well operations.

2. Description of the Related Art

The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent it is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description which may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentinvention.

Water is essential to the oil and gas industry. In an oil or gas well,water is used to cool and lubricate the drillbit and to extract debris.Accordingly, drilling a well may require hundreds of thousands ofgallons of water. Water is also recovered as a byproduct of oil and gaswells as produced water.

Furthermore, the process of hydraulic fracture uses a large amount ofwater. Hydraulic fracture, or fracking, is a commonly used process toincrease production and recovery in an oil or gas well. In hydraulicfracture, fluid is injected at high pressure into a well to crack orfracture the rock structures possessing hydrocarbons. The fracture widthis usually maintained through the use of a proppant such as sand,ceramic, or other particulates. Maintaining the fracture width allowshydrocarbons to flow to the surface of the well. In additition tofracturing the rock, water also serves as a transport medium for theproppant. Accordingly, the hydraulic fracture process requires millionsof gallons of water per well. Often, a large percentage of the waterused in hydraulic fracture is recovered as flowback water.

Consequently, oil and gas companies must supply oil and gas wells withthe requisite amount of water, and must manage the flowback and producedwater recovered from the well. To accommodate the supply need, water istypically transported through temporary pipelines or trucked to the wellsite. However, water recovered from the well is unclean and filled withhydrocarbons, suspended solids, heavy metals, and bacteria. Therecovered water must therefore be filtered and cleaned before it can bereused in the fracking process or introduced into the environment. Forthis reason, the recovered water is typically trucked from the well siteto a filtering location, and then trucked from the filtering location toits next destination. The process of using trucks to transport the waterincreases the volume of traffic on roads and requires fossil fuels topower the trucks. Similarly, a company may construct a piping system topump the water through the piping system to and from a filteringlocation, but such a piping system is a considerable expense. As analternative to transporting the water by truck or constructing a pipingsystem, a filtering company may set up a facility at the well site tofilter the water, or bring in a large filtration system attached to atrailer to reuse the flowback water for the hydraulic fracturingprocess. However, this requires additional expense to set up a filteringfacility. Furthermore, once the hydraulic fracture process is complete,the recovered water must be transported to another location.

Historically, filtration systems have been too large or too heavy toallow for easy transport. This is expecially true because the overallweight of a water transportation truck is regulated by the Department ofTransportation.

SUMMARY

The inventors recognized that what is needed is a process fortransporting and filtering water that reduces the overall waterprocurement, transport, disposal, and filtering costs.

This disclosure identifies and addresses problems associated withmanaging water for oil and gas wells. In particular, it is identifiedthat it is inefficient for an oil and gas company to transport water toand from a filtration facility located a distance away from the wellsite. It is also inefficient to maintain separate and distinct watertransport and water filtration steps.

The mobile water treatment apparatus described herein is designed toaddress these issues. In particular, the mobile water treatmentapparatus described herein is adapted to both transport and filter afluid retrieved from a first location to a second location, thusavoiding transportation costs attributed to moving water to and from anoff-site filtration facility.

In view thereof, disclosed herein are aspects of a mobile watertreatment apparatus which includes a filtration system, a motor vehicle,a fluid storage container, and a fluid delivery pump. In one example ofthe invention, the fluid delivery pump is configured to on- load a fluidinto the fluid storage container. The filtration system filters thefluid directed into the filtration system, and the filtration system andfluid storage container are affixed to the motor vehicle. The motorvehicle is configured to transport the fluid inside the fluid storagecontainer from a first location to a second location.

In another exemplary embodiment, the method for mobile water treatmentincludes retrieving a fluid from a first location, storing the fluid ina fluid storage container attached to a motor vehicle, transporting thefluid to a second location, dispensing the fluid from the fluid storagecontainer, and filtering the fluid through a filtration system attachedto the motor vehicle.

The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of generalintroduction, and are not intended to limit the scope of the followingclaims. The described embodiments, together with further advantages,will be best understood by reference to the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a mobile water treatment apparatus according toan aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile water treatment apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mobile water treatment apparatusshowing the fluid flow connections according to an aspect of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a containment box and filtration vesselaccording to one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a containment box and filtration vesselaccording to one aspect of this disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a filtration vesselaccording to one aspect of this disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mobile water treatment apparatusaccording to an aspect of this disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of a purge vesselaccording to an aspect of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a mobile water treatment apparatus 10. Mobilewater treatment apparatus 10 may include a motor vehicle 40 including atrailer 42, a storage tank 20, a vacuum/pump system 30, and filtrationsystem 50 along with their respective connections. It should beappreciated that the vacuum/pump system 30, filtration system 50,storage tank 20 and their respective connections may be secured totrailer 42. Vacuum/pump system 30 may create a positive or negativepressure within storage tank 20 to on-load or off-load fluid intostorage tank 20. In one aspect of the invention, vacuum/pump system 30may be powered by motor vehicle 40. In an alternate aspect of theinvention, vacuum/pump system 30 may be separate from motor vehicle 40and may include its own power generating device. When vacuum/pump system30 creates a negative pressure within tank 20, fluid is drawn intostorage tank 20 through rear pipes 22 a and 22 b. Conversely, a positivepressure within tank 20 allows fluid to flow out of rear pipes 22 a and22 b.

Storage tank 20 may have a capacity of 130 barrels, or 5460 gallons offluid. Alternatively, storage tank 20 may have any other capacity knownto a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the capacity oftank 20 may be between 20 barrels and 250 barrels of fluid. In oneaspect of the invention, storage tank 20 may be rated to withstand 20psi of interior pressure. Typically, fluid may be on-loaded into storagetank 20 at a rate of approximately 500 gallons per minute for each ofthe rear pipes 22 a and 22 b that is used. Conversely, fluid may beoffloaded from storage tank 20 at approximately 500 gallons per minutefor each of the rear pipes 22 a and 22 b that is used.

Filtration system 50 may be connected to rear pipes 22 a and 22 bthrough filtration input line 52 a and filtration output line 52 b.Toolbox 44 may be attached to trailer 42 and may be used to storeadditional filters for filtration system 50.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, rear pipes 22 a and 22 b may beconnected to tank 20 through tank opening valve 24 a and tank openingvalve 24 b respectively. Filtration input line valve 54 a may beprovided between rear pipe 22 a and filtration input line 52 a.Similarly, filtration output line valve 54 b may be provided betweenrear pipe 22 b and filtration output line 52 b. Sight glass 26 may betransparent and may be provided on the rear of storage tank 20 todisplay the flow rate into or out of storage tank 20, and also to showthe fluid level within storage tank 20.

Filtration input line 52 a may be enclosed by side tray 56 a, andfiltration output line 52 b may be enclosed by side tray 56 b. In oneaspect of the invention, side trays 56 a and 56 b may be insulated orheated to prevent the fluid in filtration input line 52 a or filtrationoutput line 52 b from freezing during operation of mobile treatmentapparatus 10 in extreme weather.

Filtration air hose 64 may connect to filtration input line 52 a.Filtration air hose 64 may connect to vacuum/pump air line 60 throughfiltration air valve 66. In one aspect of the invention, filtration airhose 64 may be positively pressurized to purge filtration input line 52a and filtration system 50 in order to replace filters 88 in filtrationsystem 50.

In one aspect of the invention, filtration input line 52 a may includeinput flex line 152 a. Input flex line 152 a may connect to the inputside of filtration vessel 80 inside containment box 70. Similarly,filtration output line 52 b may include output flex line 152 b which mayconnect to the output side of filtration vessel 80.

Filtration system 50 may include containment box 70 and filtrationvessel 80. In one aspect of the invention, containment box 70 mayprevent excess fluid from reaching the outside of filtration system 50,thus preventing spillage and minimizing the environmental impact of thecontaminates recovered by mobile water treatment apparatus 10. In anexample of the invention, containment box 70 may include containment boxlip 72 and containment box door 74. Containment box lip 72 may beprovided at a suitable height to prevent excess fluid from flowing outof containment box 70. Containment box 70 may be insulated or heated toprevent the fluid in filtration system 50 from freezing in extremeweather. Containment box 70 may attach filtration system 50 to trailer42 through containment box mounts 76. This attachment may be made withbolts or other non-permanent fixation devices known to a person ofordinary skill.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, input flex line 152 a may be connected tofiltration vessel 80 through input line lock 156 a. Output flex line 152b may be connected to filtration vessel 80 through output line lock 156b. Input line lock 156 a and output line lock 156 b allow removal offiltration system 50 from mobile water treatment apparatus 10 withoutdamaging input flex line 152 a or output flex line 152 b. Therefore, ifa problem arises with filtration system 50, it may be removed andreplaced with an alternate filtration system.

In one aspect of the invention, filtration vessel input valve 154 a maybe disposed between input line lock 154 b and filtration vessel 80.Similarly, filtration vessel output valve 156 b may be disposed betweenoutput line lock 154 b and filtration vessel 80.

Containment box 70 may include a tray 78. Tray 78 may be made withperforated steel or other permeable material that may allow fluid flowthrough tray 78. In one aspect of the invention, used filters may beplaced on tray 78 in containment box 70 to allow used filters to dewaterinto containment box 70. The excess water may then be removed fromcontainment box 70 through vacuum hose 170 in cooperation withvacuum/pump system 30. This may be accomplished by creating a negativepressure within storage tank 20 and closing valves 154 a and 24 b, whileopening valves 24 a and 54 a. In one aspect of the invention, vacuumhose 170 is connected to input flex line 152 a though vacuum hose valve172. In an alternate aspect of the invention, vacuum hose 170 may beconnected to output flex line 152 a. Vacuum hose valve 172 may belocated between input line lock 156 a and filtration vessel input valve154 a, or connected elsewhere on the inlet or outlet side of filtrationvessel 80. In a further aspect of the invention, containment box 70 maycontain a sump area that is configured to allow excess fluid to pool.

Filtration vessel 80 may be fixed to containment box 70 throughfiltration vessel mounts 96. In one aspect of the invention, filtrationvessel 80 is permanently fixed to containment box 70 through welding orother permanent fixing means. Alternatively, filtration vessel 80 may beremovably fixed to containment box 70 through bolts or other temporaryfixing devices.

In an example of the invention, filtration vessel 80 may include vessellid 82. An edge of vessel lid 82 may be surrounded by rubber gasket 182.Filtration vessel 80 may also include closure mechanism 90 whichutilizes swing bolts 92 and lid clasps 94 to ensure that filtrationvessel 80 may be pressurized for adequate filtration by sealing vessellid 82 and rubber gasket 182 to filtration vessel 80.

In another aspect of the invention, filtration vessel 80 includes inputrelief valve 180 a and output relief valve 180 b. Relief valves 180 aand 180 b may be provided as an additional means to release the pressurewithin filtration vessel 80. Relief valve 180 a may also be used toevacuate air from filtration vessel 80 as fluid enters the vessel.Relief valve 180 b may be used to drain fluid from filtration vessel 80,and may be used to test the post filtration water quality. Filtrationvessel 80 may also include pressure gauge 184 to display the inletpressure on the fluid input side of filtration vessel 80. In one aspectof the present invention, pressure gauge 184 is an analog pressuregauge. In an alternate aspect, pressure gauge 184 is a digital pressuregauge and may transmit a signal to a display device to indicate whenfilters 88 are dirty and in need of replacement. Furthermore, pressuregauge 184 may remotely inform an operator when filters 88 are in need ofreplacement. In another example of the invention, pressure gauge 184 maybe monitored by a controller or computer system that also monitors andcontrols the system valves.

In one aspect of the invention, filtration system 50 utilizes removablefilters 88. As shown in FIG. 6, filtration vessel 80 may include vesselcylindrical conduits 84. Each filter 88 may rest in a basket 86. Thefilter 88 and basket 86 assemblies may rest inside conduits 84. Filters88 remove contaminates from a fluid flowing into filtration vessel 80.In one aspect of the invention, baskets 86 may be made from a steelmicroscreen mesh. The baskets 86 allow filters 88 to maintain theappropriate shape while filtering the fluid. Furthermore, baskets 86prevent filters 88 from deforming or developing rips or tears in thefiltering material. In an alternate aspect of the invention, differentfilters 88 may be used to filter different materials, including but notlimited, to hydrocarbons, suspended solids, bacteria, and heavy metals.Furthermore, filters 88 may be created from a material that withstandsexposure to excessive heat or corrosive materials.

In another aspect of the invention, sight glass 126 is transparent andmay be disposed between filtration vessel 80 and filtration vessel inputvalve 154 a to show the fluid flow into filtration vessel 80.

In one aspect of the invention, filters 88 may be disposable. Forexample, disposable filters 88 may be bag or sock filters. In analternate aspect of the invention, filters 88 may be reusable.Furthermore, baskets 86 may be manufactured to filter out contaminatesand baskets 86 may be utilized as reusable filters. When filters 88become clogged with contaminates, the pressure within filtration vessel80 increases. When the pressure within filtration vessel 80 reaches apredetermined pressure as depicted on pressure gauge 184, the mobilewater treatment apparatus filtration process is stopped to replace dirtyfilters 88. To replace filters 88, filtration input line valve 54 a isclosed and filtration air valve 66 is opened to purge excess fluid fromfiltration vessel 80. Once fluid is purged, filtration air valve 66,filtration vessel input valve 154 a, and filtration vessel output valve154 b are closed. Vessel lid 82 may be opened using swing bolt linkage98 to rotate swing bolts 92 to release the coupling between swing bolts92 and lid clasps 94. Dirty filters 88 may then be removed and replacedwith clean filters. Dirty filters may then be placed on tray 78 incontainment box 70 to allow excess fluid to leave the dirty filters.

In an example of the invention, each clean filter-basket-conduit withinfiltration vessel 80 supports a flow rate of approximately 100-500gallons per minute. Filtration system 50 pictured in FIG. 6 may include7 conduits and may therefore support a flow rate of approximately700-3500 gallons per minute when filters 88 are clean. In an alternateexample of the invention, filtration system 50 may include a pump orother fluid propelling device to propel fluid through the filtrationsystem. The flow rate of the fluid through the filtration system mayrange between 0-3500 gallons per minute, depending on the vacuum/pumpsystem and the number of conduits. The pressure within filtration vessel80 generally may not exceed 100 psi as most commercially availablefiltration elements cannot sustain a pressure greater than 100 psi.However, the pressure within filtration vessel 80 may exceed 100 psi ifthe filtration elements are constructed to withstand higher pressures.Filtration system 50 may also be composed of alternate configurations ofconduits. For example, filtration system 50 may include fewer conduitsor a larger number of conduits to support a varying number of filters.The conduits may be connected in parallel, series, a combination ofparallel and series, or an alternate pattern. In another aspect of theinvention, the filters, baskets, and conduits may be other shapesincluding ovals, triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, or any otherpolygon.

In an aspect of the invention, the system utilizes a filtration system50 with removable filters. However a person of ordinary skill wouldrecognize that alternate filtration systems may be used to remove fluidcontaminates. For example, mobile water treatment apparatus 10 mayutilize a membrane filtration system, a centrifugal filtration system, ahydrocyclone filtration system, an electro-coagulation filtrationsystem, a Voraxial separator filtration system, an Ecosphere Ozonixfiltration system, a Tekleen automatic filtration system, a 3M CUNOfiltration system, a Purolator filtration system, or the like.

In another aspect of the invention using reusable filters, reusablefilter 386 may be cleaned by removing the filtered contaminates into abucket or into purge vessel 350 as depicted in FIG. 8. Purge vessel 350may include purge box 370 and purge box door 374. In an example of theinvention, reusable filter 386 may be loaded into purge vessel 350 ontoarm 372. Air lines 376 may be connected to the pressurized air line inmotor vehicle 40 and may be used to force air across the surface ofreusable filter 386 to remove contaminates. Arm 372 may also be used toprevent contaminates from being forced to the opposite side of reusablefilter 386. Drawer 378 along with purge box 370 may receive and retainthe contaminates for proper disposal. Once reusable filter 386 is freeof contaminates, reusable filter 386 may again be used in filtrationvessel 80.

In an aspect of the invention, filtration system 50 is attached totrailer 42 below storage tank 20. Furthermore, filtration vessel 80 isarranged to allow a horizontal fluid flow through filtration system 50.However, a person of ordinary skill would understand that filtrationsystem 50 may be attached to any part of mobile water treatmentapparatus 10 and is not limited to the location below storage tank 20.For example, filtration system 50 may be attached to the rear of the cabof motor vehicle 40, or the rear of trailer 42. Furthermore, filtrationsystem 50 may be arranged to allow fluid to flow vertically throughfiltration system 50.

In one aspect of the invention, the fluid valves in mobile watertreatment apparatus 10 are manually operated mechanical ball valves. Inalternative aspects of the invention, the valves may be pneumatic orelectrical, including but not limited to knife gate valves, butterflyvalves, ball valves, solenoid valves, or the like. Furthermore allpneumatic and/or electrical valves may be electronically monitored andoperated by a controller or computer system.

In another aspect of the invention, mobile water treatment apparatus 10may utilize a plurality of filtration systems 50 connected in series orparallel. For example, FIG. 7 depicts a mobile water treatment apparatus10 with filtration system 50 and filtration system 250. Each filtrationsystem may filter out different sizes of fluid particulates, or servealternate filtration purposes. Furthermore, each filtration system maycontain different filtration devices.

An exemplary implementation of aspects of this disclosure is describedbelow by way of example. In an example of the present invention,vacuum/pump 30 creates a negative pressure in storage tank 20. Dirtywater is on-loaded at a first location into storage tank 20 through rearpipes 22 a and 22 b by opening tank opening valves 24 a and 24 b. Onceon-loading is complete, tank opening valves 24 a and 24 b are closed,thus containing the dirty water within storage tank 20. Mobile watertreatment apparatus 10 then transports the dirty water within storagetank 20 to a second location. At the second location, vacuum/pump 30creates a positive pressure within storage tank 20. Next, tank openingvalve 24 a is opened and dirty water flows through filtration input line52 a, through filtration vessel input valve 154 a, and passes throughfilters 88 within filtration vessel 80. Filtered water exits filtrationvessel 80 past filtration vessel output valve 154 b, and flows throughfiltration output line 52 b to rear pipe 22 b. Tank opening valve 24 bremains closed allowing the filtered water to exit rear pipe 22 b to theoutside of mobile water treatment apparatus 10. In this configuration,rear pipe 22 a may contain a cap, valve, or blockage to prevent waterdischarge through rear pipe 22 a. Filtering the water after the water isdischarged from storage tank 20 provides the advantage of allowingstorage tank 20 to always be dirty. Therefore, a single mobile watertreatment apparatus 10 may provide both filtered water and/or dirtywater in an application where water filtration is not desired.

In an alternative aspect of the invention, a line may be attached tofiltration vessel output valve 154 b to allow the filtered water to exitmobile water treatment apparatus 10.

In another aspect of the invention, in the case where fluid filtrationis not desired, mobile water treatment apparatus 10 transports the dirtywater to the second location and off loads the dirty fluid by openingeither or both of tank opening valves 24 a and 24 b while filtrationinput line valve 54 a and filtration output line valve 54 b remainclosed.

In another aspect of the invention, filtration system 50 may filter thedirty water as the dirty water is on-loaded into storage tank 20. Thisis accomplished by creating a negative pressure within storage tank 20,closing tank opening valve 24 a, opening filtration input and outputline valves 54 a and 54 b, opening filtration vessel input and outputvalves 154 a and 154 b, and opening tank opening valve 24 b. In thisconfiguration, rear pipe 22 b may contain a cap, valve, or blockage toprevent the filtered water from discharging to the outside of mobilewater treatment apparatus 10.

In an alternate aspect of the invention, mobile water treatmentapparatus 10 may be utilized as an on-site filtration system. This maybe accomplished by bypassing storage tank 20 and connecting an externalvacuum/pump system to either rear pipe 22 a or rear pipe 22 b. With tankopening valves 24 a and 24 b closed, fluid may be propelled intofiltration system 50 and discharged from rear pipe 22 b.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentdisclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

1. A mobile water treatment apparatus comprising: a motor vehicle; afiltration system attachable to the motor vehicle; a fluid storagecontainer attachable to the motor vehicle; and a fluid delivery pumpthat loads a fluid into the fluid storage container, wherein the motorvehicle transports the fluid inside the fluid storage container from afirst location to a second location, the filtration system filters thefluid, and the fluid is discharged at the second location.
 2. The mobilewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising acontainment receptacle surrounding the filtration system to collect anexcess fluid from the filtration system.
 3. The mobile water treatmentapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filtration system is affixedto the motor vehicle.
 4. The mobile water treatment apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the filtration system includes at least oneremovable filter to remove contaminates from the fluid.
 5. The mobilewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filtrationsystem includes at least two removable filters to remove contaminatesfrom the fluid.
 6. The mobile water treatment apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the filtration system comprises: a filtration vessel;an input connector; an output connector; at least one conduit includinga removable filter, the removable filter residing in the conduit; and acover that seals the filtration vessel allowing the filtration vessel towithstand a pressure, wherein the fluid flows through the inputconnector into the filtration vessel, through the removable filterwithin the conduit through the output connector, the removable filter isremoved and replaced after contaminates accumulate in the filter, andthe cover allows access to the removable filter within the conduit. 7.The mobile water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, including atleast a second filtration system attachable to the motor vehicle.
 8. Themobile water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluiddelivery pump directs the fluid into the filtration system after thefluid exits the fluid storage container.
 9. The mobile water treatmentapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flow within theapparatus is controlled with mechanical valves.
 10. The mobile watertreatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fluid deliverypump creates a negative pressure to draw the excess fluid from thecontainment receptacle into the fluid storage container.
 11. The mobilewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid isproduced from an oil or gas well.
 12. A mobile water treatment apparatuscomprising: a motor vehicle; a fluid storage container attachable to themotor vehicle; a fluid delivery pump; and means for filtering fluidattachable to the motor vehicle; wherein the fluid delivery pump directsa fluid into the fluid storage container, the fluid is directed throughthe fluid filtering means, and the motor vehicle transports thefiltering means, fluid storage container, and the fluid contained in thefluid storage container from a first location to a second location. 13.The mobile water treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thefluid delivery pump is affixed to the motor vehicle, and the fluiddelivery pump directs the fluid through the fluid filtering means.